Ralph Nader’s success in getting on the Idaho ballot is noteworthy, because this had been one state in which he had never before been on the ballot. There are now only 4 states in which Nader has never been on the ballot: Georgia, North Carolina, Indiana, and Oklahoma.
In the past, and also this year, he will receive write-ins in Georgia, Indiana and North Carolina. Also he got write-ins in Idaho in the past. But Oklahoma prohibits write-in votes, so Oklahoma continues to be the only state in which Nader has never received any votes at all.
The lawsuit filed against Oklahoma this year by Bob Barr, to overturn the ballot access requirements, was filed on July 17. There is still no hearing date. Barr’s attorney, Jim Linger, will make a supreme effort in the next few days to get a hearing date established.
We don’t need to ration democracy in America. Anybody should be able to have their name on the ballot. Even if the ballot is 100 pages long of names, it still doesn’t justify ballot restrictions. Don’t get fooled by the argument, “Americans will be confused by too many names on a ballot.” How insulted do American voters have to be before they are fed-up? Are we so helpless that we can’t pick a name off a list with more than two names on it?!? And although I won’t vote for Bob Barr he should still be on the ballot so that voters have the choice. The right to vote for public officials is the fundamental right in any democratic nation. We need a federal ballot for federal office. After the Florida 2000 debacle that should be obvious. Americans need to wakeup and see that all is not well. Our democracy is weak, and weakening. Got to votenader.org to see a real platform for change.
A very major weakness lies in having the appointed party hack Supremes appointed by party hack U.S.A. Prezs and approved by the party hack gerrymander U.S.A. Senate — i.e. by monarchy and oligarchy forces.
Does even a Nader lawyer have ANY brain cells to detect that
SEPARATE IS NOT EQUAL.
Brown v. Bd of Ed 1954 ??? —
Brown has NOT been brought up in ANY of the MORON ballot access cases in the Supremes since 1968 — 40 years and counting of MORON cases by MORON lawyers.
Did the EVIL ex-slave State regimes ever try to even keep Elephants off of the official ballots in such States ???
DemoRep,
It seems obvious to everyone but you that the “Brown v Board of Ed.” case you insist on citing relentlessly is NOT germane. However, as you are convinced otherwise, I suggest you prepare a Friend of the Court brief outlining your arguments. I’m sure your brilliance will enlighten us all and your brief will be filed and win the day in the next Supreme Court case.
While awaiting the appropriate case, I suggest you publish a draft of your brief in a blog somewhere. It should elicit accolades from the legal community and ballot access mavins.
Oklahoma is a joke. This is the sort of thing that only reinforces the Sooner State’s image as a backwards state of ya-hoos. If the people of Oklahoma have any self-respect for themselves and their state, they should demand and end to such undemocratic laws.
I’m pretty sure it’s five states. Nader didn’t get on in North Carolina in 2000 or 2004.
Tom, NC’s listed in the four above.
On the flip side, Nader is getting on a number of ballots that he failed to get on in 2004: California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Virginia, Oregon, Arizona, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Missouri…
That’s a feat, too.
When does Virginia certify its ballot?
Having been bitterly disappointed in Nader, the state Greens [much less the Democratic Party sell outs on the national scene] and the Peace and Freedom Party in P2004, I am duly impressed with the P2008 achievements and ballot access of ‘Uncle Ralph’ [An entire new crew of law students on summer vacation ????]
I wouldn’t be to impressed by them. They simply collected more rotten apples this time. In plain English their petitions were still bad they simply collected more of them. If 50% were good they simply collected twice the number.
Joe
ural Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 10:45 am
Oklahoma is a joke. This is the sort of thing that only reinforces the Sooner State’s image as a backwards state of ya-hoos. If the people of Oklahoma have any self-respect for themselves and their state, they should demand and end to such undemocratic laws.
Phil Sawyer adds:
“If the people of” the United States “have any self-respect for themsleves and their” states, “they should demand and end to such undemocratic laws.”
Let Ralph and Matt (and the others) on in all jurisdictions and let them debate!
The problem with using Brown in terms of ballot access cases, is that the USSC subsequently all but rejected the argument and started looking at ballot acces laws with a much, much lower level of legal scrutiny.
The court has basically said that state sponsored racial, ethnic or religious discrimination is almost always unconstitutional. It has not said that with a citizen’s political peference or affiliation.
Ralph Nader is the best candidate running in this election. Here is hoping the American public will see they have a choice. Ralph is at between 5-10% in the states regardless of 100% media blackout.
Imagine his pull if he got on the debates…Would make this a 3 way race!
Nader/Gonzalez 2008!!!
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